Interpersonal Communication

Communication Notebook

This is the form you will use to record all of your weekly exercise notes. In weeks 1, 2, 4 and 5 you will update this document with the new exercise you complete. You only have to answer three questions, through week 4. Then, in week 5, you will be required to complete questions two for each week’s exercise. You will be required to use Bevan, one course reading from the required or recommended list, and TWO course videos. See the resources box for the week 5 paper instructions for a list of videos, but you can use any from class. They should all be listed in a reference list at the end of this document and they should all comply with APA style guidelines.

Week 1: Channels of Communication

Step 1 - Describe the findings. (100 to 150 words) – Only this part is due at the end of week 1

a) How much time did each exchange take (roughly)? (1 to 2 sentences)

b) How well were the questions answered via phone or video chat? (1 to 2 sentences)

c) How well were the questions answered via email, messenger, or phone texting? (1 to 2 sentences)

d) How close did you feel to the person in the phone or video chat exchange? (1 to 2 sentences)

e) How close did you feel to the person in email, messenger, or phone texting exchange? (1 to 2 sentences)

f) Which interaction was most satisfying and why? (1 to 2 sentences)

For the week 1 exercise I chose to chat with my cousin and sister I asked them both about their birthday plans being that we usually celebrate them together. The exchange with my sister via text message took roughly about 10 minutes while the exchange with my cousin via FaceTime took about 30 minutes.The questions answered via text message were very short, to the point, and very not detailed. The questions answered via FaceTime were answered thoroughly and in detail. I have a very close relationship with both my cousin and sister in which I shared both interactions with. I felt more engaged in the interaction via FaceTime, it was more personable being that we could see each other which made it more enjoyable overall.

Step 2 - Apply what you have learned during this class, especially the basic principles of effective communication, ideas of the self, or culture, to your exercise results, citing at least two course resources to support you and one can be a video. (This must be 200 to 250 words.) Due week 5.

Week 2: Please list your exercise: ___________________________

Step 1 - Describe the findings. (100 to 150 words) – Due week 2

As we have learned in Bevan, we use perceptual schemas to make sense of the world around us. These are central to communication, as they involve perception (taking in information into our minds through observing verbal and nonverbal cues), classification (putting information into categorical boxes in our minds), and then assigning meaning to those classifications, which are typically positive or negative.  In this option, you will explore a broad category of schemas called “stereotypes.”  To complete the task, do the following, using and citing Bevan as much as possible: 

· Define stereotypes, utilizing Bevan.

· Explain how stereotypes are useful tools we use to make sense of the world and make choices.

· Identify three common stereotypes and write a sentence that draws on them.

· Explore why each stereotypical sentence can be destructive.

· List some steps we can take to mitigate the negative impacts of stereotypes

· Stereotypes as stated in Bevan and soul are exaggerated perceptions of similarities or differences among people. Stereotypes at times can be useful tools to make choices and sense of the world when categorizing things. Although stereotypes tend to categorize things, we should never rely on them because they are based on ignorance. There are many different stereotypes but three that come to mind right off the back are; racial, religious, and gender stereotypes. A racial stereotype that I’ve heard before which is very untrue and childish is that white people do not season their food. I personally have friends of this race that cook excellent meals, so this is something that may be false or from someone’s personal experience which does it place everyone of this race in that particular category. A religious stereotype that many attach to Muslims is that they are terrorist, which in fact is false as well. Finally a gender stereotype is that all men or women cheat. This is another stereotype based off of opinion. Each of the stereotypes are destructive especially because of their false narrative and negative outlook.Get

Step 2 - Apply what you have learned during this class, especially the basic principles of effective communication, ideas of the self, or culture, to your exercise results, using and citing at least two course resources to support you and one can be a video. (This must be 200 to 250 words.) Due week 5.

Week 4:

Please list your exercise: ___________________________

Step 1 - Describe the findings. (100 to 150 words) – Due week 4

Option 1: Conversation management and the four “C”s

Review the themes covered in section 7.2 of Bevan. Then, go have a conversation with someone. Ask them for permission to record it. As you replay it, answer the following questions:

1. How did you or the other party convey confidence, creativity, caring, or consideration?

2. How did the conversation allow you build or sustain what Bevan calls “rapport?”

3. What did you note about open-ended questions, turn-taking, and mirroring?

Option 2: Assisting Others

When was the last time someone provided you with social support or you provided others with support? What were the circumstances? Which type(s) of social support did they use (action-facilitating, nurturing, emotional, instrumental, informational)? Was it appropriate for the situation? Try to list both nonverbal or verbal cues that were used when giving the support.

Option 3: Relationship Maintenance

1. Take a moment to evaluate one of your own relationships or the relationship of someone close to you.

2. What types of positive relationship maintenance behaviors related to communication outlined in chapter 8 in Bevan are used in this close relationship?

3. What different communication techniques are used in different types of relationships?

Step 2 - Apply what you have learned during this class, especially the basic principles of effective communication, ideas of the self, or culture, to your exercise results, using and citing at least two course resources to support you and one can be a video. (This must be 200 to 250 words.) Due week 5.

Week 5:

Please list your exercise: ___________________________

Step 1 - Describe the findings. (100 to 150 words) – Due week 5

(Choose one option)

Option 1: Social support

· Think of a time when someone provided you, or you provided someone, with social support.

· What type(s) of social support outlined in Bevan did you or they use?

· What type of verbal and nonverbal cues were used to provide this support.

· Was it appropriate for the situation and why?

Option 2: Relationship equity

· Report on a time when you felt you were in an unbalanced relationship.

· Did you feel underbenefited or overbenefited?

· Based on what you have learned in Bevan, what are some specific verbal and nonverbal messages or behaviors you might use to restore equity in a close relationship?

· How would you use different messages or behaviors if you were underbenefited versus overbenefited?

Option 3: Are you a chameleon?

In chapter 11, Bevan reports on the value of being a chameleon, where you can change your communication style to suit the scenario. This requires being highly aware and mindful of yourself, others, and the choices you make.  In this exercise, you will test this theory:

· Put yourself in a challenging position in your personal or professional life. If you are at work, speak up at a meeting or talk to your co-worker or boss about the topic.  If you at home, have a difficult conversation with someone you care about. 

· Before you have the conversation, think about the cultural norms for this exchange. What are they?  Are you following or violating those norms?

· As you have the conversation, be mindful of where you are emotionally, and where they are. Report on those emotions and the role of empathy and emotional intelligence in the exchange.

· How did it go? Did you feel you were closer to being a “chameleon?”

 

Step 2 - Apply what you have learned during this class, especially the basic principles of effective communication, ideas of the self, or culture, to your exercise results, using and citing at least two course resources to support you and one can be a video. (This must be 200 to 250 words.) Due week 5.